Meade LT ACF Series, LT SC Series, LT Series instruction manual Maintenance, Collimation

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MAINTENANCE

The LT Series is a precision optical instrument designed to yield a lifetime of rewarding viewing.

Given the care and respect due any precision instrument, the LT Series will rarely, if ever, require factory servicing. Maintenance guidelines include:

1.Avoid cleaning the telescope’s optics: a little dust on the front surface of the telescope’s correcting lens causes virtually no degradation of image quality and should not be considered reason to clean the lens.

2.When absolutely necessary, dust on the front lens should be removed with gentle strokes of a camel hair brush or blown off with an ear syringe (available at any pharmacy). DO NOT use a commercial photographic lens cleaner.

3.Organic materials (e.g., fingerprints) on the front lens may be removed with a solution of 3 parts distilled water to 1 part isopropyl alcohol. You may also add 1 drop of biodegradable dishwashing soap per pint of solution. Use soft, white facial tissues and make short, gentle strokes. Change tissues often.

4.CAUTION: Do not use scented or lotioned tissues that can damage the optics.

5.Do not, for any reason, remove the correcting plate from its machined housing for cleaning or other purposes. You will almost certainly not be able to replace the corrector in its proper rotational orientation and serious degradation of optical performance will result. Meade Instruments assumes no liability for damage incurred to the telescope in this way.

6.If the LT Series is used outdoors on a humid night, water condensation on the telescope surfaces will probably result. While such condensation does not normally cause any damage to the telescope, it is recommended that the entire telescope be wiped down with a dry cloth before the telescope is packed away. Do not, however, wipe any of the optical surfaces. Rather, simply allow the telescope to sit for some time in the warm indoor air, so that the wet optical surfaces can dry unattended.

7.If the LT Series is not to be used for an extended period, perhaps for one month or more, it is advisable to remove the batteries from the telescope. Batteries left in the telescope for prolonged periods may leak, causing damage to the telescope’s electronic circuitry.

8.Do not leave the LT Series inside a sealed car on a warm summer day; excessive ambient temperatures can damage the telescope’s internal lubrication and electronic circuitry.

Collimation

The optical collimation (alignment) of any astronomical telescope used for serious purposes is important, but in the case of the Schmidt-Cassegrain design of the LT Series, such collimation is absolutely essential for good performance. Take special care to read and understand this section well so that your LT Series will give you the best optical performance.

As part of final optical testing, every Meade LT Series is precisely collimated at the Meade factory before shipment. However, vibrations in shipping can cause the optical system to become misaligned. Re-aligning the optics is, however, a straightforward process.

To check the collimation of your LT Series, center a bright star that is overhead, or use a “hot spot” of reflected Sunlight from a chrome car bumper, with the supplied 26mm eyepiece. Allow the telescope to adjust to the temperature of your observation site before proceeding; temperature differences between the optics and the outside air can cause distortion in

(1)

 

(2)

(3)

 

 

 

Figure 13: Collimation

 

 

 

 

 

the images.

 

 

With the

star or

hot spot

centered, de-focus

the image.

You will notice that the out of focus star image looks like a ring of light surrounding a dark central spot; the

AutoStar #497MAINTENANCEHANDBOX

INDEX

 

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Contents Index Battery Safety Instructions Contents LT Series ACF and LT Series SC Telescope IntroductionAssembling the Tripod Getting StartedLock-Knob Spreader Shaft End Nut Spreader BarUsing an AC Adapter or DC Power Cord Installing the BatteriesPower Port Mounting the TelescopeYour Telescope is now Fully Assembled Attaching AccessoriesGETTING#497 Handboxstarted Using the Red Dot Finder Adjusting the Red Dot FinderLT Series Home Position Aligning the LT SeriesMagnetic North Home Position True North Home PositionInitializing AutoStar Moving Through AutoStar’s MenusEasy Two-Star Align How to perform the Easy Align ProcedureGo To Saturn Using the Guided TourAutoStarLT SERIES#497KEYHANDBOXFEATURES B. C. D. E Computer Control Panel Eyepiece Holder Thumb Screw52º Optional AccessoriesChoosing Eyepieces AutoStarOPTIONAL#497ACCESSORIESHANDBOX Imagers and Accessories Power SuppliesTour the Cosmos with Just the Push of a Button AUTOAutotarSTAR#497HANDBOXSlew Speeds Observing Using AutoStar’s Arrow Keys Terrestrial Observing Observe the MoonTo Calculate Sunset time AutoStar Navigation ExerciseGuided Tour Menu Entering Data into AutoStarObject Menu Navigating AutoStarAutoStar #497 Menu Tree Event Menu Utilities Menu Glossary MenuSetup Menu Index Autostar #497 Handbox To Edit a Site Adding Observing SitesTo Add a Site to the user-defined site list Observing Satellites Using AutoStar to Find Objects Not in the DatabaseTo GO to a user-entered object Tour Modes How to Create Your Own Guided TourComment Line Command LineWriting a Tour Index Downloading Tours LandmarksTo Select a landmark from the database To Add a landmark to the databaseTo perform a Landmark Survey To check on the available amount of memory in AutoStarAdvanced Alt/Az Alignment IdentifyTwo-Star Alt/Az Alignment Displayed information ExampleAutostar Features One-Star Alt/Az Alignment BrowseCollimation MaintenanceLT Series Collimation Collimation ScrewsInspecting the Optics Customer ServiceGauging the Movement of the Telescope Updating Your LT Series FirmwareAppendix a DriveObjects in Space Appendix BDeep-Sky Objects Model and Product Number LT ACF # Optical System Appendix C SpecificationsAutoStarSPECIFICATIONS#497 Handbox ACF and SC Optical Systems Appendix DFederal Communications Commission Appendix ERecycling 55-09004 Meade Limited Warranty

LT Series, LT ACF Series, LT SC Series specifications

The Meade LT SC Series, LT ACF Series, and LT Series telescopes are designed to meet the diverse needs of amateur astronomers and astrophotographers alike. Each of these series caters to various levels of experience while incorporating advanced features and technologies that enhance observational stability and image quality.

The Meade LT SC Series, featuring the advanced Schmidt-Cassegrain design, excels in versatility. This series includes different aperture sizes, allowing users to view celestial objects ranging from the moon to distant galaxies. The telescopes come equipped with an AudioStar hand controller that provides a database of over 30,000 celestial objects, enabling users to easily locate and track their subjects. The built-in GPS feature facilitates effortless alignment by automatically determining the user’s location and time.

In contrast, the LT ACF Series showcases Meade's innovative Advanced Coma-Free (ACF) optics. This design minimizes coma and field curvature, providing sharp, crisp images across a wider field of view. Ideal for astrophotography, this series is enhanced by features like a fast focal ratio for better imaging of dim objects and a robust construction that ensures stability during use. The LT ACF telescopes also support advanced imaging techniques, allowing users to capture stunning images of deep-sky objects while minimizing aberrations.

The classic LT Series remains a favorite among beginners. Known for its straightforward setup and usability, this series is designed with a lightweight and portable frame. The LT Series telescope is equipped with an altazimuth mount, making it user-friendly for quick observations. The simplicity allows new astronomers to start observing with minimal technical knowledge. Additionally, these telescopes support a variety of accessories such as smartphone adapters, making it easy for users to capture their observations.

All three series incorporate Meade's proprietary StarLock technology in certain models, which facilitates automated tracking. This feature frees astronomers from the complexities of manual tracking, allowing them to focus more on the experience of observing celestial wonders.

In summary, the Meade LT SC Series, LT ACF Series, and LT Series deliver exceptional optical performance and user-friendly features, making them suitable for a wide range of astronomy enthusiasts. Whether you are a seasoned astrophotographer or a novice sky-watcher, Meade's telescopes provide the technology and capabilities needed to explore the universe.
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